Aug. 10, 2010
PORTLAND, Ore. – On the strength of two additional first-place votes, Southern Oregon University edged College of Idaho in the 2010 Cascade Collegiate Conference volleyball preseason coaches’ poll.
Southern Oregon tallied 95 points, including six first-place nods, to earn the favorites’ tag. College of Idaho earned the other four first-place votes and finished with 94 points.
The Raiders and Yotes have combined to win the last seven CCC regular season titles. The two programs shared the conference regular season title a year ago, finishing with identical 17-1 CCC marks.
Concordia, which finished in a tie for third place last year, totaled 70 points for the No. 3 position. The Cavaliers were followed by Eastern Oregon (66), Corban (55), Oregon Tech (54), Northwest (40), Warner Pacific (39), Northwest Christian (25) and Evergreen (12).
Under the direction of fourth-year head coach Josh Rohlfing, SOU returns five starters and 11 letterwinners from the 2009 club, which posted 24-4 record and placed 13th in the final NAIA Top 25 ranking of the season.
Leading SOU returnees include senior setter Lindsey Stone, the 2007 and 2008 CCC Player of the Year who redshirted last season; outside hitters Leanne Stennett and Sarah Holgen; and right-side hitter Leah Berstrom. Both Stennett and Bergstrom were first team All-CCC choices a year ago.
College of Idaho, which was ranked as high as sixth nationally last year on its way to the national tournament, returns 12 letterwinners and five starters, including 2009 CCC Player of the Year Naomi Reimer, a senior setter/outside hitter, and senior Whitney Owen, last year’s conference Libero of the Year. Three others who have earned first team All-CCC recognition – setter Madie Machurek and outside hitters Ciciley Fox and Sarah Harris – are also back for veteran coach Liz Mendiola.
For Concordia, 12 newcomers joins seven returning letterwinners from last year’s 16-10 squad. Key returnees for the Cavs include senior otuside hitter Raluca Dinca, a first team All-CCC selection, and junior setter Skyler Kamaka, a four-time CCC Setter of the Week who led the conference in assist per game.
Eastern Oregon, which shared third place with Concordia last year, will have a new coach in Hailey Pearce, who will look to first team All-CCC selection Jessica Lea, Lisa Steinbach and Kaitlyn Duncan for leadership.
2010 CCC Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll
| Team |
Points |
| 1. Southern Oregon (6) |
95 |
| 2. College of Idaho (4) |
94 |
| 3. Concordia |
70 |
| 4. Eastern Oregon |
66 |
| 5. Corban |
55 |
| 6. Oregon Tech |
54 |
| 7. Northwest |
40 |
| 8. Warner Pacific |
39 |
| 9. Northwest Christian |
25 |
| 10. Evergreen |
12 |
| First place votes in parentheses |